Rodney Dangerfield once said, “I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.” Though it was part of a comedy bit, he’s not lying.
One of the biggest factors that separates professional hockey from other professional sports and makes it entirely unique in its own way is the fact that fighting is perfectly legal. In no other professional sport can you clock someone in the jaw, sit in a box for five minutes, then get out with no further penalty.
It not only livens games up, but is also responsible for a lot of hockey followers and addicts.